San Joaquin County Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
JOHN A. MERZ.
A native of Germany, where he was born on April 6, 1867, spending a part
of his boyhood there, John A. Merz, long one of the most loyal and optimistic
citizens of his adopted land, has the distinction of being the first man in
Stockton to commercialize automobile painting, with the result that he enjoyed
the most profitable patronage of any expert hereabouts in his line. His father,
Baltis Merz, who had married Miss Rosie Ammon, brought his family from Germany
in 1879 and arrived at Stockton on May 15, 1880; and it was fortunate for our
subject that he had already participated in good educational advantages, for the
circumstances of the family were such, after they reached here and Mr. Merz
died, that John had to go to work for a living, although only thirteen years of
age. From 1880 to 1886, he served at the carriage-painter's trade in the service
of M. P. Henderson, while from 1886 to 1890 he was one of the best painters at
the William P. Miller Carriage Factory.
In 1890, however, Mr. Merz decided to strike out for himself, and so he
built a small shop at 732 East Lafayette Street, commencing with one helper to
establish a thoroughly dependable carriage and wagon-painting service. Eight
years went by, however, before he painted an automobile for the first time, and
this was the well-known machine of C. A. Towne, one of the first owners in
Stockton of a motor-car. From that first, luckily successful, experience grew an
important business, to carry on which he employed regularly at least seven
hands. He also rebuilt and enlarged his shop and his satisfied customers came
from all over San Joaquin County, and even occasionally from beyond the county's
limits. Taking plenty of time and never allowing even the customer to hurry him
beyond what is advisable for the patron's interests, Mr. Merz found it easy
enough to produce work of the highest quality, so that it was never difficult to
live up to a guarantee. He disposed of his business in February, 1921, and is
now living retired.
At Stockton Mr. Merz was married to Miss Magdalena Adams, a native
daughter and a member of a well-known Stockton pioneer family. By a former
marriage with Miss Lulu Ellen Heeney, daughter of a pioneer, he is the father of
one daughter, Lulu Ellen, now the wife of Harry Saner of Stockton. Mr. Merz is
popular as a fraternity man, belonging to San Joaquin Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M.,
Truth Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., also to the Encampment, and he has made all
chairs of the Red Men, and also all the chairs of the Woodmen of the World. For
twelve years he was a member of Company A. N. G. C. He was one of the original
stockholders of the Union Safe Deposit Bank, and since 1917 has been a member of
the board of directors.
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co.,
1923
p 772
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.